I'm also adding my two cents worth (hoping to get change, actually!. This is my 2nd year at MB, and while I look forward to the locale, the tournament itself needswork.

The outfield had been re-sodded, apparently by out-of-work illegals with no quality control. Gaps in the sod big enough to put a foot in to. I know of no one that got hurt, but... it was a disaster in waiting.

One umpire, been through this before, it IS, after all, about the money.

One seeding game, and then the rest of the tourney finished on day one? Wow.

Port-a-John's were a days walk from home plate. Ok, maybe I exagerrated, but it was definately an innings worth of hiking.

So we were the first one's on the field at 8am, and the last one's off at 6pm. Throw in the four games ... well you get the idea.

Think next year I'll just bring the clubs and hit the local courses!

Hope to see y'all in Ft Myers. I be the chubby fellow (THAT narrows it down!!)with the walrus moustache, playing 1st base and batting left!!
Paul

I play 1st base, currently for a 60s Major Team, Senior moments out of Orlando. I have ALWAYS played 1st base, since I was 8 years old. (The plight of beibng left handed). I tend to play in, close to the bag, and if I get hit by a batted ball, I place the blame squarely on my inability to field, not technology. Fortunately, I CAN field.

As for lessening the impact by utilizing a lesser cor ball, would that not then make batters want to hit it up the middle more? I dont mean AT the pitcher, but it IS the most wide open spot in the field.

When I'm in a slump (happned once in '96 !!!), I revert back to the old stand-by, a level swing, which then sends the ball just to the right of the pitcher in to center or right center field.

I play 1st base, currently for a 60s Major Team, Senior moments out of Orlando. I have ALWAYS played 1st base, since I was 8 years old. (The plight of beibng left handed). I tend to play in, close to the bag, and if I get hit by a batted ball, I place the blame squarely on my inability to field, not technology. Fortunately, I CAN field.

As for lessening the impact by utilizing a lesser cor ball, would that not then make batters want to hit it up the middle more? I dont mean AT the pitcher, but it IS the most wide open spot in the field.

When I'm in a slump (happned once in '96 !!!), I revert back to the old stand-by, a level swing, which then sends the ball just to the right of the pitcher in to center or right center field.

Great posts, great memories. I played with Taylor Brothers back in the mid 70s to early 80s and played against some great teams, Joe Theismans Restaurant, Jerry's Catering, Howard's, etc, and the list goes on. And, I got to play with Butch17, in Florida when I grew up. Overweight 1st Baseman can play forever!!!!

Great posts, great memories. I played with Taylor Brothers back in the mid 70s to early 80s and played against some great teams, Joe Theismans Restaurant, Jerry's Catering, Howard's, etc, and the list goes on. And, I got to play with Butch17, in Florida when I grew up. Overweight 1st Baseman can play forever!!!!

Thanks for the input Bruce. We played six games at Lee County Complex and not once did I ever see two umpires on any field. Unfortunately, I wasn't around for the finals so I won't make the assumption on how many umpires there were then.

I played against Kaysons Grille in other events. Fine bunch of boys there!! My services are being utilized with Senior Moments of Orlando. Play well and be safe.

I played in my 9th consecutive Winter Nationals in Ft Myers and it was the same old story. One umpire. I guess I understand and could even be made to agree that during the seeding games, of which there was only two, one umpire would suffice.

But once the regulation tournament begins, can't we have two? This isnt sour grapes either, in fact the reverse could be true. I play 1st base for Senior Moments and in one instance, in the elimination games, a ball was hit to me, I caught it, swiped at the runner leaving 1st base and then tagged the base for a double play, and called so by the homeplate umnpire. Problem was, I missed the runner by a foot or so and then "sold" it to the homeplate umpire. I honestly felt bad for the vicitmized player and team, who sufferred the loss in what was eventually a one-run game.

The next game, myself and an opposing player agreed to pay out of pocket for the additional umpire. Of course that was denied due to a precedent being set. I undertand that too, but I merely was trying to get a point across.

No harm fell to our team due to having only one umpire, but, you pay for a product and expect to get the real deal.

Imagine my angst when I bought my last motorcycle, only to find out it came with only one tire.

I played with Senior Moments in the 60AAA. (The overweight lefthanded 1st baseman!!!) We batted 14 in the seeding games so that everyone got their time in, rotating position players with DHs so no one got too tired. During bracket play we dropped to 11 hitters, yes, to try and win. Sandbagging? Nahhhh!

Now what about the poor guy who has to work and arrives a day late to the event? That did not happen with us, but I foresee it as a problem in making players play the seeding games before being allowed in bracket play.

I enjoyed my time at Dalton with SPA and enjoyed the fine competition. We lost 3 games, all by one run. Much fun!!!

I was at Dalton, GA for the SPA event and saw a team play in 60AA during pool play and was subsequently "upped" to 60AAA during bracket play. Im unaware of why it happened, but I did see them play and thought they were just a shade under the AAA level. I thought most of the AAA teams were right where they were supposed to be, Express, Time Bandits, Ga/Al, Senior moments,etc.

Rooster, I live in Ocala and have been a member of FHC for 9 years. I currently am associated with a 60AAA team on a National Level but am looking to increase my playing time. I am NOT playing 60 ball in FHC at this time.

As I understand it, any team not staying at a Host Hotel has to pay a fee in excess of those teams that do stay at the host hotel. That fee, again, as I understand it, is $120.00 above and beyond the tournament fee. This surcharge is to be applied even if the team is a local team. I live and play in Central Florida and we all live within commuting distance of several of these tournaments, but yet we are still being financially punished for not staying at the host hotel. I'm thinking that this needs to be revisited. But, then, that's just me.

I play both 50 and 55 ball in Florida and most recently for Suncoast Sunrays in the 55 division.

This is my 3rd year in a row at this tournament and its the same each and every year. One umpire. What's up with that? Is it a money thing? Well, duhhhh, of course it is. I know they do their best but they ARE going to miss some calls and THAT hurts when youre on the losing end of a missed call. I didnt write a check for the entry fee, but if I had, I think I would have asked for a partial refund.

One umpire in particular had this to say to my wife prior to our first game of the tourney. "I'd like to hang the guy who invented these bats. This game was meant for Friday Night drunks." Now how he knew I was intoxicated on Friday I'll never know, but ireegardless, THAT comment need not be made.

For those who know Helen, you can appreciate her etort. "Maybe you ought to find sonething else to do on the weekends."

As a career first baseman, Im used to getting "hot shots" and think I field them fairly well. Every once in a while one gets thru the glove and bounces off my shin "ouch". I blame not the bat, nor the batter, nor the ball. I blame me. I enjoy using the Ultra II and will continue to do so as long as its still legal.

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